Ganesh immersion ceremonies got off to a peaceful start on Wednesday with the Mumbai Police, Indian Navy and the Coast Guard providing aerial, sea and land security cover and hundreds of thousands of people gathering for the mega-religious event, officials said.

Coast Guard choppers hovered over the city keeping strict vigil while naval patrol boats and divers were positioned at strategic locations, including the main venue Girgaum Chowpatty, an official said.

One of the largest ones, the Ganesh Gully's idol of Lord Ganesh, began its slow journey to Girgaum Chowpatty for the final immersion, around five kilometres away.

Police were out in full strength all over the city and suburbs for the immersion ceremonies that kicked off in the morning in most areas with many small family and hand-held idols arriving at various immersion sites.

Security was also been beefed up in neighbouring Thane and entire Konkan region, comprising Raigad, Ratnagiri and Sindhudurg districts, besides Pune, where Ganeshotsav is celebrated in a big way, a police official said.

As per last year's estimates, around 150,000 big and small Ganesh idols shall be taken out in processions from individual homes and major Ganesh mandals, attracting over six million people, including domestic and foreign tourists.

Hindus thronging the city's roads go into trance as a huge idol of the elephant-headed Hindu god Lord Ganesha is transported for immersion into the Arabian Sea in Mumbai. AFP

One of the largest idols, the Ganesh Gully's Lord Ganesh, began its slow journey to Girgaum Chowpatty for the final immersion, around five kilometres away. (NDTV Photo)
Traffic diversions for trucks carrying idols

Hyderabad, Sept. 20: The city police has released traffic diversion information for Ganesh immersion procession on Sept. 22 and 23.

Lorries carrying Ganesh idols for immersion coming from M.J. Market, Abids and Basheerbagh will proceed to Liberty. At MCH ‘Y’ Junction lorries carrying idols of excessive height will be segregated and sent to BRK Bhavan, Anmol Hotel to take a ‘U’ turn in front of the Old Secretariat Gate and proceed to NTR Marg. Others will proceed to the Ambedkar Statue and turn to the Upper Tankbund. Lorries carrying Ganesh idols for immersion, coming from Punjagutta and Mehdipatnam side will proceed via Nirankari Jn-Saifabad-Iqbal Minar-Secretariat-Telugu Talli and Budha Purnima on NTR Marg for immersion. Heavy vehicles carrying Ganesh idols from Secunderabad will take right turn at Ranigunj, proceed to Minister’s Road to the immersion point opposite KIMS Hospital.

Those seeking to use Upper Tankbund or Budhapurnima as immersion point will take a left turn at the Sailing Club and go towards Kavadiguda-Musheerabad-RTC crossroads-Narayanaguda flyover-Himayatnagar Y Junction-Liberty and reach the Tankbund. Lorries coming from Musheerabad and Hindi Mahavidyalaya will proceed towards RTC crossoads and from there via Chikkadapally-Narayanaguda-right turn to Himayatnagar Y Junction- Liberty-towards Ambedkar Statue- to go either to Budha Purnima or Upper Tankbund.

Slow moving vehicles carrying idols are prohibited from joining the main procession. Lorries carrying idols coming from RR district to Tankbund shall take the above mentioned routes only.

Last year, around 1.87 lakh idols were immersed and the number is expected to increase this year, attracting over six million people. Security has also been stepped up in wake of the immersion processions. (NDTV Photo)
EXIT ROUTES FOR EMPTY LORRIES / TRUCKS AFTER IMMERSION:

Culminating the 11-day long celebrations of Ganeshotsav, Mumbai is all set to bid farewell to its favourite god- Lord Ganesha idols today. The visarjan will be carried out amidst tight security in Mumbai as the city is on high alert following the attack on tourists at Jama Masjid in New Delhi on Sunday.

After immersion of Ganesh idols in the lake at the Buddha Purnima, the empty lorries should proceed to their destination via Khairatabad Flyover, Vishweshwariah Statue, KCP and Hotel Taj Krishna and will not be allowed to return towards the Telugu Talli Statue or to ply via the Mint Compound Road. After immersion of Ganesh idols on the Upper Tankbund, empty lorries should proceed towards Children’s Park near Vivekananda statue on the Tankbund where they will take a right turn and go on the Kavadiguda Road and further proceed towards Musheerabad. After immersion of Ganesh idols at the immersion point in front of KIMS Hospital (Old Deccan Continental Hotel) on the Minister’s Road, the empty lorries should proceed towards Rasoolpura and Begumpet. For the purpose of immersion, the vehicular movement will be unidirectional from the Ambedkar Statue towards the Boats Club only on the Upper Tankbund. No vehicle, whether carrying Ganesh idols or empty, will be permitted to go against this flow.

The Ganesh idols, varying from gigantic ones measuring several metres tall to tiny, hand-held ones, shall be taken for immersion into the Arabian Sea at various locations, creeks, rivers, lakes, ponds, reservoirs and artificially-created immersion sites dotting the city and suburbs.

As many as 27 sites are located along the seashore, posing a challenge to the authorities to maintain security as well as safety of the Ganesh revellers and devotees who would throng the immersion venues all day.

Mumbai Police and Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation have made elaborate on-site security arrangements at all the immersion sites.

Metal detectors, closed circuit television cameras, hand-held metal detectors, road blocks, loudspeakers and floodlights have been installed at most of the venues to ensure the immersion ceremonies pass off without any untoward incident, an official said.

Elaborate traffic arrangements have also been made with suitable diversions and one way routes to ensure that processions of Ganesh idols are not hampered or delayed as they wend their way to various immersion sites.

In view of the recent terror threats, the parking of all four-wheelers have been banned on all immersion routes and movement of two-wheelers have been banned for the day.

Culminating the 11-day-long celebrations of Ganeshotsav, the nation is all set to bid farewell to its much loved god: Lord Ganesha on Wednesday. The visarjan of Ganesha idols is being carried out amidst tight security in various parts of the country. (NDTV Photo)

Mumbaikars broke out into a riot of colours and dances with loud music amidst chants of 'Ganapati Bappa Moraya,' renting the air, as lakhs of devotees took to streets to bid adieu to their favourite deity. (AFP Photo)

Police were out in full strength all over the city and suburbs for the immersion ceremonies that kicked off in the morning in most areas with many small family and hand-held idols arriving at various immersion sites.

Metal detectors, closed circuit television cameras, hand-held metal detectors, road blocks, loudspeakers and floodlights had been installed at most of the venues to ensure the immersion ceremonies pass off without any untoward incident. (AFP Photo)